10 Easy Ways to Conserve Water

June 29, 2011 8:14 pm

1. Brush better. Make sure the faucet is turned off while you’re brushing your teeth. It may seem like a no-brainer, but this one action can waste a lot of water.

2. Shave smart. Fill up your sink with a little hot water and turn the faucet off while shaving. Use the water in the sink to rinse the razor.

3. Repair right away. Fix toilet and faucet leaks immediately. The longer they wait, the more money you’re throwing down the drain.

4. Cut by two. Cut your shower by two minutes and you could save 12 gallons of water or more per shower.

5. Don’t use your toilet as a trash can. If you do, you’ll increase unnecessary flushing — not to mention the possibility of expensive plumbing problems.

6. Install a low-flow showerhead. These inexpensive devices (they start at around $15) can cut water usage to up to 20,000 gallons per year.

7. Add aerators. Another cheap addition (less than $10), aerators mix air bubbles into the water stream. Use one and you’ll get the same amount of pressure with a lot less water.

8. Install low-flow toilets. They use about one third of what traditional toilets use. (They’re required for most new construction, so it’s possible the home already has them.)

9. Try a cheap alternative to low-flow toilets. Fill a half-gallon plastic container with stones (or another heavy item) and place it in your toilet tank. It will displace water, saving you about a half gallon on each flush.

10. Save your almost-warm water. As you wait for your bath or shower water to warm up, save it in a bucket and use it to irrigate your lawn or flower beds later.